Social Security discontinues printouts

. The Social Security Administration is discontinuing numidents, printouts used for identification purposes, because they don’t contain security features to protect against fraud and identity theft.
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If you’re carrying a printout from the Social Security Administration that you’ve been using for identification purposes, its days as a useful document are numbered.

The printouts, technically known as numidents, are typically used by people who have lost or misplaced their Social Security cards and are waiting for a replacement card. But the SSA is discontinuing numidents because they don’t contain security features to protect against fraud and identity theft.

“By eliminating SSN printouts, we safeguard our customers and the integrity of the SSN by ensuring that we do verifications only through secure means, using the actual Social Security card or through a secure electronic verification system,” Doug Nguyen, deputy regional communications director for the SSA’s Chicago region, said.

The SSA discontinued issuing numidents Aug. 1.

After applying for a replacement Social Security card, people will now receive a receipt showing that they’ve applied for a replacement card, and this receipt may be considered acceptable documentation by many organizations. Typically, a replacement card will arrive in three to five business days.

“For employers, governmental agencies and organizations who often request the Social Security number printout from the public, we provide convenient SSN verification in real time or overnight via our online business services,” Nguyen said.

“Employers have access to SSN verifications through the online Social Security number verification system free of charge.”

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, however, requires a document including an SSN from Ohio residents seeking a driver’s license, commercial driver license, motorcycle or moped license, temporary instruction permit card or state ID card.

The BMV requires that customers present documents proving five elements — full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, U.S. citizenship or legal presence and residential street address in Ohio.

The BMV said it will continue to accept SSA numident printouts dated within the past 120 days until Dec. 1.

For proving names and date of birth, the BMV will accept a driver’s license, birth certificate, valid passport, military ID or concealed weapons permit, among other documents. Acceptable secondary documents with an SSN include tax forms, motor vehicle titles, public assistance cards, military discharge papers and marriage certificates or licenses. To prove Ohio residency, the BMV will take insurance policies and bank statements, as well as tax forms.